The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 176 April 2023
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The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Deliveries
Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes
9, Sweetmans Road OX2 9BA 07706 606719 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk
Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is
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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The
Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription only £12 per annum,
delivered to your door. Contact: Janet Bartlam: 01865 453111.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for any
errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not a
vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in a
personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The Sprout is printed by The Holywell Press, and published by
North Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by
guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.
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The Sprout
Issue 176 April 2023
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 Change at Medical Practice
9 Tumbling Bay
11 Botley in Bloom
13 Flood Scheme Consultation
15 The Sprout Needs You
17 4th Oxford Scouts and
Kennington Memory Club
18 Robin Palmer
21 Your Council Tax Explained
23 Dosa Park comes to Botley
25 Planning Applications
27 Botley Has Cafės
28 Crofts Court Nearly There
29 Culture Corner
31 Public Art Unveiled
33 Youth Club Latest
35 2nd Botley Brownies
37 Randoms
39 General Organizations
From the Editor
The clocks have gone forward, April showers are here (unlike last year)
and there’s lots going on in Botley as usual. There will be changes at the
Medical Practice (p5), although hopefully this will not mean closure, the
Flood Scheme is up for consultation (p13) but still fails to get the support
of HOEG. Oxford Flood Alliance has details of changes in the application
if you’d like to know more: https://oxfordfloodalliance.org.uk/ In the pipeline
are the re-formed Youth Club (p33), affordable housing locally (p28) and
works to restore Tumbling Bay (p9). Now with us are the first tranche of
public art in the shopping precinct (p31 and cover), and the first two cafes
and a new restaurant (reviewed on pages 27 and 23). No longer with us,
sadly, is an unsung local hero, Robin Palmer, who died in February (p18),
a man of many parts. Two major events will hit Botley in May, local
elections for Parish and District Councils on Thursday 4th (p27) , and the
long weekend of Coronation Celebrations, around May 6th. Next month’s
issue will come out in good time so you can read what candidates for
election have to say about themselves. And there will be details of
Coronation plans, still under consideration. Officially they won’t include a
beacon chain, but that doesn’t mean we can’t light the beacon!
Ag MacKeith
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Letters to the Editor
Gadgets
The best thing about the egg topper (March Sprout, page 34) is its
original German name: Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher.
As for the gadget in the photo, my sister gave me one of those a
few years ago. She said it was for removing the hulls from
strawberries. I personally think it's a Denis Healey eyebrow plucker.
With best regards,
Uwe Ackermann
[Thanks, Uwe. – might have known the Germans would have had
a name for it. But the Sprout is not convinced by the strawberry
huller – we’ll be putting it to the test in June and reporting back!
Ed]
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Changes at Botley Medical Centre
Patients have been notified that the partners at the Practice have decided
to give notice on their contract with the NHS. They will continue to practise
until early September 2023.
The Practice is not closing.
The Chairman of the Patients Participation Group has received a letter
from the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire Integrated Care
Board who intend to keep primary care services at Kennington and
Botley. They wish to work closely with the Chairman, the PPG and other
stakeholders to explore options and find the best possible solution.
The chair and vice chair have already begun to dialogue with the ICB.
The PPG has received some FAQs from the ICB, the link to these is here
https://www.bucksoxonberksw.icb.nhs.uk/our-places/oxfordshire
/botley-medical-centre/ Patients are advised to read these questions
carefully.
Until September, the Practice and surgeries are open as normal. Patients
who require medical treatment should contact the surgery in the normal
way. For a prescription or a repeat prescription they should also continue
to contact the surgery, or their pharmacy, as normal.
The PPG is confident that a new provider to manage the surgeries will be
found in the timescale with a seamless change of management and a
continuing local health care service.
The Practice has excellent clinicians. In consultation with the Practice the
PPG has summarised the roles of clinicians (below) so that patients can
arrange appointments with a clinician in the first instance rather than a
doctor. Appointments with these clinicians can be booked in advance.
This will enable doctors to prioritise emergencies.
Clinical Pharmacist
They apply their pharmaceutical knowledge in hospital or secondary care
discharge management, patients’ prescription requests and issuing,
medication reviews, reviewing and setting up patients’ Dossett boxes,
medication queries, adverse reactions to medication, etc. The
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practice team is formed by a lead pharmacist (in house), a prescription
clerk, a prescriber and two PCN pharmacists.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists are qualified independent clinical practitioners who can
assess, diagnose, treat, and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems
and undifferentiated conditions and, where appropriate, discharge a
person without a medical referral. Reception and other clinical staff can
refer patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and
management plan: they usually treat back pain, foot and knee pain, and
all type of musculoskeletal conditions. The Practice offers this service
three days a week.
Advance Nurse Prescriber
The ANP can deal with minor illnesses, plus other requirements like
contraception, etc, and she can prescribe for the patients. The ANP will
be able to check with a doctor on the day if needed or signpost the patient
to other services. The ANP can deal with a range of things from asthma
to ear infections, minor pain management, abdominal pain, chest
infections, colds, coughs, skin rashes, urinary tract infections, etc.
Physician Associate
They can treat the same medical conditions as a GP, but cannot
prescribe. They are supervised by an experienced GPS if needed. They
visit our care home population and can manage chronic diseases and all
sorts of medical issues. The Practice shares a physician associate with
our PCN colleagues.
Social Prescriber
The social prescribers can support people with a wide range of social,
emotional, or practical needs, and manage resources to improve the
mental health and physical wellbeing of our patients.
People with mild or long-term mental health problems will be referred to
them, as well as people with complex needs, people who are socially
isolated and those with multiple long-term conditions who frequently
attend either primary or secondary health care. On many occasions they
support elderly and vulnerable patients. The Practice has one in-house
social prescriber and two PCN social prescribers.
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Tumbling Bay Update
A year ago,
40 or so peo-
ple gathered
at Tumbling
Bay early
one evening
to hear of the
Council’s
plans for
Tumbling
Bay. The
concrete
north wall
had become
unstable and
needed sort-
ing. The
Council talked of collapsing the bank into the basin and naturalising a
new bank.
Six months later, in October we gathered at WOCA and the Council was
talking of a bank of gabion baskets (stone-filled wire baskets) on the north
side stepped down into the basin. We were concerned about the risk of
baskets hidden in the water and how people would get out on the north
side given these rock baskets are not exactly kind on bare feet, since the
Council did not want to provide steps.
All went quiet. Then word came that a planning application was being
prepared, at which point the community would be able to comment. We
decided to take the initiative and submit the petition to Council. Signed by
2271 people it called for:
· Preservation of the historic character and shape of Tumbling Bay by
seeking to repair or replace the existing wall.
· For ladders to continue in situ to allow people to get out of the river
safely.
· For Council co-operation with local residents to explore ways in which
funds could be raised to pay for the renovation work so that cost would
not be a barrier, as we understand that Council funds are hard
pressed.
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On Monday March 20 we spoke to the petition at Full Council. You can
see the petition fantastically presented by Alice and hear the councillor
discussion here at https://youtube.com/watch?v=TB_WI_z24zw It starts at
3:15 mins.
We felt that there was a lot of positive support and agreement that there
should be dialogue with the community. The Council voted unanimously
for what we wanted, which was further engagement with local residents.
As of February, we were still in the dark about the cost and durability of
options. So we submitted a Freedom of Information Request to obtain the
details we knew the Council had looked at. This is what we now know;
Option 1 replacement by a concrete wall £202,000 with a life of 80
years.
Option 2 steel piling £192,000 with a life of 125 years.
Option 3Re-naturalisation of the bank £173,000 with a life of 4 years.
Option 4gabion baskets (we have been told these can not be vertical
but must be stepped) £166,000 with a life of 100 years (although some
suppliers at least seem to say 60 years in water).
So what next? We are looking for a community meeting in April. Our aim
is to ensure community feedback on the options. We are heartened that
the option that provides the longest life, while not being the most expen-
sive, is steel piling a tried and tested method of edging Oxford’s water-
ways. It replaces the basin’s damaged vertical wall with a vertical wall
and retains the sense of history and purpose of Tumbling Bay.
Elizabeth Ball for the Tumbling Bay Preservation Society
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Botley In Bloom
Front Garden Competition 2023
Categories:
Best Overall Front Garden
Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden
Best use of Vegetables in a Front Garden
Crucial dates
Closing date for entries: Monday 5 June
Judging: week beginning Monday 12 June
Results announced: Monday 19 June
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Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme
your views are needed!
The Environment Agency’s £176 million (originally £120 million) Oxford
Flood Alleviation Scheme includes a 5km long flood channel from north
of the Botley Road to north Kennington, together with flood embank-
ments, culverts, bridges, etc. It aims to reduce flooding in Oxford and
‘keep Oxford open for business’. Maps on the county council website (de-
tails below) show the northern part of the scheme that affects Botley and
North Hinksey. The scheme needs to go through two separate processes
before it can go ahead:
1. The Planning Application must be agreed by Oxfordshire County
Council, and
2. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs must make
Compulsory Purchase Orders.
A planning application for the scheme was made last year. It is at mye-
planning.oxfordshire.gov.uk, application no. MW.0027/22. At the time,
300 local residents wrote in. More than 90% opposed the flood channel
part of the scheme, which would:
permanently reduce biodiversity, notably at Hinksey Meadow;
be poor value for money, protecting only 51 extra homes at £470,000
per home in a 1-in-50 year flood event, compared to the scheme with
no channel;
reduce access to a huge area of public space, especially during the 3-
5 year construction period;
and require 40mph restrictions on the A34 at South Hinksey to allow
lorries carrying the scraped-out spoil from the channel to get onto the
ring road.*
Oxfordshire County Council responded by asking the Environment
Agency for more information. This has now been delivered and is on the
planning application website (totalling about 400 documents!). It shows
that, even without considering Hinksey Meadow, and despite the wetland
habitats that the scheme would create, there would still be a loss of bio-
diversity on site. It also confirms (at Appendices Q and U for any keen
planning application readers) that the scheme without the channel
would provide significant flood protection, be cheaper, and avoid
almost all the damage and disruption.
* An option of removing spoil by rail is being explored.
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Please comment on the planning application by 20 April to Mat-
thew.Case@oxfordshire.gov.uk. The information about how to do this is
on www.oxfordfloodandenvironmentgroup.com, and www.hinkseyand os-
ney.org but just a brief email summarising your reasons for supporting or
opposing the scheme would already be helpful.
There will be a meeting about the scheme at the Assembly Room
at Oxford Town Hall on 17 April at 7pm
A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) allows an organisation to force
people to sell their land to the organisation. Because CPOs are so dras-
tic, removing people’s rights to their own land, objections to a CPO often
go to public inquiry. Land owners’ objections carry more weight, but other
users of the land, such as recreational users, can also object.
Normally, organisations serve CPOs only after they have received plan-
ning permission. However the Environment Agency has already served
CPOs for the flood alleviation scheme, including for Hinksey Meadow and
nearby fields, one owned by the Ferry Hinksey Trust and leased to the
Scouts, Seacourt Nature Park, and the fields along the Electric Avenue
from Osney Mead to South Hinksey.
If you use any CPO land, please send comments to FloodsCasework@de-
fra.gov.uk by 2nd April (though they may well accept comments after
that, so do write in regardless). Your comments should state the title of
the order “Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme: compulsory purchase order
2023”, the grounds for your objection, your address, and your interest in
the land (e.g. dog walking).
Professor Riki Therivel and Canon Dr Chris Sugden
Hinksey and Osney Environment Group
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sprout notices
The Sprout is looking for new directors to help us stay on track. It’s not an
onerous job. We meet two or three times a year, to review the accounts, plan
the AGM and discuss any controversial issues that may arise. The
atmosphere of our meetings is friendly and co-operative. If this sounds like
something you’d like to do, please get in touch via
editor@thesprout.org.uk.
We also need some more deliverers. Just half an hour a month, and the
chance to get out and see what’s going on in another part of the locality.
Painless really, but a vital job! Get in touch initially via the Editor as above.
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4th Oxford Scouts
The 4th Oxford Scout Group will be organising the Oxford Greenbelt 10k
run on Saturday 24th June. It will start on the playing fields at Brookes
Sport, Harcourt Hill at 11.00. The run is
through beautiful countryside with views
over the dreaming spires and is open to
anyone of any ability who is 16 years or
older. The funds raised will go to 4th
Oxford Scout Group and Oxfordshire
Jamboree Unit (to help scouts attend the
World Scout Jamboree in Korea this
summer). Please use this QR code, or
this link https://bit.ly/greenbelt_10k, for
more information and joining instructions.
Hopefully we’ll see many of you there!
James Wynne, Chair of Trustees.
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Kennington Memory Club
Kennington Memory Club is pleased to announce that the number of
members it can accommodate at its Day Centre is set to rise by two a
day to twelve. This means there will be more spaces for those with a
diagnosis of dementia to attend the Day Centre at its Monday and
Thursday sessions. If you or someone you know would like to attend,
please contact our Organiser, Helen, on 07852 883496, or by email to
memoryclub1@outlook.com.
LADDERTHON 2023 is now fast approaching. This is a crazy idea! A
long, long ladder will wind its way on a long, long circuit from Headington
to Kennington, carried by stalwart volunteers, taking in Cowley Centre
and Oxford City centre en route, fundraising all the way. Three charities
based in Kennington, Headway and the MacIntyre Centre as well as
Kennington Memory Club will benefit from this extraordinary endeavour.
They all extend their services to an area well beyond Kennington,
including Cumnor. If you would like to be part of the Memory Club
volunteer army along the way, please contact Isobel Birse by emailing
chair@kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk. Many thanks to Roger
Dennett who came up with this unique idea and is the mastermind behind
its organisation. Isobel Birse
Robin Palmer A Football Story
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Robin Palmer, who
died on 19th February
at the age of 83, left his
mark on the world as a
champion of indige-
nous land rights, and
particularly women’s
land rights, in South-
ern Africa, first for
Oxfam and then for the
Mokoro consultancy.
While still with Oxfam
UK he established the
Land Rights in Africa
website which col-
lected information relating to the struggle for the return of land rights to
indigenous small farmers on the Continent.
If you google Robin Palmer, Oxfam, you will find a string of heart-warm-
ing tributes to his passion for justice for the underdog, to the breadth of
his knowledge and willingness to share it, and to his generosity as a men-
tor. There is so much to say about Robin that these short pages can
hardly do him justice. He was a valued Sprout director and always enliv-
ened our meetings with a bottle of wine from his carefully chosen cellar.
What is less well known is his lifelong love of sport, which led to this fa-
vourite anecdote, told at his funeral by his daughter Janna.
I wasn’t planning to be in England at all in 1966.
In late 1965 I was living in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe),
researching for a PhD on land and politics in Rhodesia, based at the local
University College.
Then, on 11th November, Ian Smith, the white settler leader, made his
illegal Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain.
Subsequently a number of people at the University College, including my-
self, signed a letter to The Times saying that we did not recognize or
accept the illegal regime of Mr Smith and his colleagues. Fairly soon after
that, I received a letter from the Rhodesian Immigration Ministry stating
that in view of my action they would not be renewing my Student’s
Residence Permit, I was now a Prohibited Immigrant (capital letters!)
and so I was required to leave the country within seven days.
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That was a bit of a shock! The University College appealed on my be-
half and the thing dragged on until the end of March 1966 when I got my
final marching orders!
About the first thing I did when I arrived was to get along to Wembley to
buy tickets for the World Cup!
I managed to get tickets for all the England group matches at Wembley
against Uruguay (0-0), France (2-0) and Mexico (2-0), and also for the
quarter-final against Argentina (1-0) and the semi-final against Portugal
(2-1).
But I wasn’t able to get a ticket for the final (England v West Germany).
To be honest not many people (me included) thought that England would
get that far.
A curious thing then happened. The biggest surprise of the entire tourna-
ment was when the total outsiders North Korea knocked out the fancied
Italians 1-0.
A few days later, I was having lunch at a favourite Italian restaurant near
Russell Square, Trattoria Verdi. Rather mischievously, I asked the waiter
if they had any North Korean food on the menu! He laughed and said no.
But he did have a ticket for the World Cup Final! Would I like to buy it from
him?
Would I! How much? I asked. Ten pounds he said. That was a lot of
money in those days, but I knew with absolute certainty that England
would never get to a final of the World Cup again in my lifetime, so I
bought it.
And what a ticket it was just about the best in the house! It was right in
the middle, just below the royal box, and in a seat right at the end of a
row. Which meant that when Bobby Moore and his team climbed up the
steps to receive their winners’ medals, they passed right in front of me
and so I was able to pat them all on their backs as they went up to shake
hands with the Queen.
Moral of the story life can often be full of surprises!”
Robin was one of those rare human beings who left the world a better
place than they found it. We were lucky to have him here in Botley where
he was a solid supporter of the library campaigns (fending off closures of
Botley Library) and West Way Community Concern, as well as a keen
allotment holder. The Sprout sends sympathy and best wishes to his wife
and family. AgM
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Information Classification: General
North Hinksey Parish Council is recruiting for two roles:
Parish Clerk - 27 hours/week
Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) - 10 hours/week
The roles can be combined into one full time role for candidates with appropriate experience.
Other types of job share may also be considered.
Salary: Pro rata, NJC pay scales 24 to 28 (currently £31,099 to £34,723 ). Progression
to scale points 29 to 32 possible with experience and training.
Local Government Pension scheme.
With a population of c.5000 and an annual Parish Precept around £100k, Botley &
North Hinksey is an active Parish Council with 14 members. We are seeking
committed and enthusiastic professionals to help us achieve our ambitious vision,
including delivery of new leisure facilities and becoming a zero-carbon Council.
The Parish Clerk provides executive support for all NHPC activities and advises the
Council on legal, personnel, planning, and regulatory matters related to Council
business. Located in the Parish office in West Way Square with some home working
also possible, you will attend all Council and Committee meetings, requiring
evening work on Thursdays. The Clerk will have management responsibility for the
part time RFO and part time groundskeeper.
Requirements: attention to detail, computer literacy, teamwork, a friendly and
professional communication style, excellent organisational and time-management
skills. CiLCA qualification and Local Government experience are highly desirable,
but the Council can support training towards CiLCA qualification.
The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) administers all of the Council's financial
affairs. The position requires strong organisational and interpersonal skills,
experience with financial/accounting practices, a good working knowledge of
Receipts and Payments bookkeeping, VAT, payroll processes, and use of commercial
accounting software. The Council will support the successful candidate in any
further training needed and continuing professional development.
The RFO will report to the Clerk and predominantly be a homeworker with options
to spend some time in the Parish office.
Application deadline: 21
st
April Application form and job descriptions online at
www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk You may also contact the Chair Caroline Potter to
discuss the role: caroline.potter@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk, 07590 194768.
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VACANCIES AT NORTH HINKSEY PARISH COUNCIL
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Your Council Tax 2023-24
Dear Residents,
I received my council tax bill via email, and I realised it’s a pretty
complicated thing. So I thought that, to be useful, I could help by
explaining how it all works.
This article is a necessarily brief approach. For the more thorough
treatment, see my blog: http://cllrdebbyhallett.com/2023/03/15/your-
council-tax/
Your council tax amount is based on your property value as assessed in
1991. If your property is newer than that, valuation assessors have
determined its value for tax band purposes.
You pay your council tax monthly (actually 10 out of 12 months; you get
a break in Feb and March). It comprises four separate taxes, set by each
authority:
1. Oxfordshire County Council
2. Thames Valley Police
3. Vale of White Horse District Council
4. Your parish precept
For the upcoming 2023-24 year, here are the taxes for a Band D property:
1. County: £1734.03
2. Police: £256.28
3. Vale: £151.26
4. Parish, which is set by the parish council or parish meeting:
a. North Hinksey: £51.20
b. South Hinksey: £105.06
c. Sunningwell: £55.33
d. Wytham: £39.44
As you can see, County gets the largest portion of your Council Tax by
far. They fund social care, NHS, fire & rescue, schools, roads and many
other things. Police get the next highest amount; they were allowed to put
their rates up by £15 this year. Districts are limited to a maximum £5 rise,
and that funds waste and recycling collection, planning services, leisure
facilities and more. Parishes set the precept based on their planned
spending.
So that’s how it works! Debby Hallett District Councillor.
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Dosa Park has Arrived In Botley
So what IS a Dosa? This was the first question I asked Mani Velusamy,
the manager of the much anticipated and newly arrived Dosa Park in
Botley’s West Way Square.
If, like me, you love Indian food but are unfamiliar with South Indian nosh,
you will be interested to learn that a Dosa is a thin pancake made from a
fermented batter of ground black lentils and rice. Dosas are served hot
with a variety of fillings, often with chutney and sambar (a spicy stew of
lentils and mixed vegetables) and not only are they gluten free, vegan,
probiotic, and low in calories but they provide a perfect balance of protein
and carbohydrate. What’s not to love? At Dosa Park you have a choice
of 10 different toppings as well as an extensive menu featuring authentic
classic Indian dishes. Everything is freshly cooked to a high standard.
I chatted to Abdul who, along with his
business partner Raji, originally set
up a chicken shop in Park End Street.
Then, in 2009, when Abdul’s long-
term friend Mani joined the team, it
blossomed into Dosa Park serving
traditional South Indian food. This
original branch used to be take-away
only but it now has seating as well.
The Dosa Park team are thrilled to
have been able to expand the
business by opening the new
restaurant in Botley, with 60 covers
and more seating planned for outside
in the summer. The Botley venue
has the advantage of two hoursfree
parking in any of West Way’s official car parks, enabling Dosa Park’s
many fans to make a trip from further afield, via the ring road. Mani has
lived in Botley for three years, handily only a couple of minutes’ walk from
the restaurant and his twins attend a local school. Abdul mentioned that
he is hoping to move here too and they both cited the really good feeling
of community in our neighbourhood.
There are plans afoot to bring in a student discount in Botley, like the one
already enjoyed at the Park End Street shop. By the time you read this
it may already be in place along with a children’s menu which is
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currently being worked on. Although these guys are planning ahead
hoping to open more branches eventually Abdul emphasized the
importance of the human connection, running his team of 25 people as a
family and feeding people from the heart was how he put it. His maxim
for the team is ‘Work together, grow together’. The respect they have for
each other and the community is palpable.
Alongside Dosa Park’s commitment to provide fresh, quality food is the
desire to keep things affordable. As well as the student discount
mentioned above, Dosa Park are planning a 20% discount (both eat in
and take-away) on Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 12 noon
and 4.00pm. They’re also happy to offer coffee, and dessert if that’s your
fancy, as a welcome break from your shopping trip.
Opening hours from the beginning of April will be 12 noon until 10pm
Monday to Saturday, and from noon until 9pm on Sunday. Dosa Park is
also open for take-away and there are plans to collaborate with Just Eat,
Deliveroo, and Uber Eats.
Mani asked me to pass on Dosa Park’s thanks to the Botley community
for the local support and said it has given them a great confidence boost
to see so many people enthusiastically visiting them. Judging from the
delicious meal my husband and I enjoyed at Dosa Park the other evening,
that support is well deserved.
Viv Smith
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LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
56 North Hinksey Lane.
Single storey rear extension, 2-
storey side extension, replace
garage for accommodation.
10 February
Target Decision
Date:
7 April
Land at Oxford RFC North Hinksey
Lane. New 30m lattice tower to
include relocation of 12 antennae, 4
x 0.6m dish antennae.
13 February
TDD: 9 April
Botley Centre West Way.
Addition of a plant room and
updates to window design.
27 February
TDD: 29 May
36 Hurst Rise Rd. Erect partial two-
storey, partial 1-storey rear
extension.
6 March
TDD: 1 May
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Botley Has Cafés
The Mystery Eater (ME) and a friend went to sample Loomsbury in the
first week that it opened. The pink-and-baby-blue exterior sign gave way
to a yellow-and-green interior with attractive lights and a large, pinkish,
not-sure-what-to-call-it-but-maybe ‘bouquet’ at the back. After all the
Facebook hoopla, we were expecting the place to be heaving, and every
booth did have one person in it, but the atmosphere was relaxed and
quiet. It was easy to talk.
The ice creams and cakes were colourful and attractively laid out. We
ordered two cakes and drinks. There were no prices on anything and the
total ended up being more than £20. Ouch! The cakes arrived in a bowl,
with a thick layer of whipped frosting, and swimming in neon-coloured
sauces. They were tasty in an experimental, not-sure-if-I’d-want-this-
again way. The drinks didn’t come. And didn’t come. We flagged down
one of the charming staff and they finally did come, and were good.
A few days later the ME and another friend went to the Missing Bean.
The décor was less jarring, mostly wood and neutral colours, but the
seating was less comfortable: lots of people crammed together in a small
noisy place. The pricing was clear, and our two drinks and two cakes
cost less than £12. The cakes didn’t look as vibrant as those at
Loomsbury, but tasted like they were made with real ingredients, and
were very moreish. Our drinks arrived promptly.
Overall the ME thinks that Loomsbury would be good for families because
of its nice booths, ice cream, and bright colours… that is, if Loomsbury
could bring their prices down to a more manageable level. Being of a
more advanced age, the ME prefers the taste of the cakes at Missing
Bean, and the lower prices, but wishes that they had more generous,
comfortable seating.
There will be more reports from our Mystery Eater as Botley’s new
eateries open up. We welcome reviews from friends and neighbours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parish and District Council Elections
Will take place on Thursday 4th May. You will need to bring photo ID
(passport, driving licence, etc). If you don’t have it, apply before 25th April
for a free Voter Authority Certificate. The online page with more info and
an application form is here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-
authority-certificate. Or vote by post (no ID needed).
Local Affordable Housing Crofts Court
30
Local people and businesses have pledged over
£540,000 through a community share offer to support
the affordable housing scheme at Crofts Court in
Dean Court. Thanks to this great success, the share
offer will stay open until 12 April 2023, so there’s still
time to invest. Details at www.ethex.org.uk/invest/OCLT
(or scan the QR code).
More than 170 investors
have already put in amounts
of between £250 and
£50,000. The money raised
will reduce how much the
scheme’s developer and
owner, Oxfordshire
Community Land Trust
(OCLT) needs to borrow at
commercial rates to
complete the project.
The eight affordable one-
and two-bedroom homes
are due to be finished and let to people with a Cumnor Parish connection
this summer. When Directors visited the site on March 10th, they found
the internal walls have been plastered and painted, making the rooms
look light and spacious. The next stage is for scaffolding to come down
and kitchens to be fitted.
OCLT board member and local resident Alison Mathias said: ‘We've been
overwhelmed by the response and the number of people who want to
support our work and build community-owned, permanently affordable
homes. Huge thanks to everyone who has invested so far we hope to
attract even more new investors in the weeks ahead.’
You can also support the project by becoming a community member of
OCLT for just one pound, or by offering your time, help, services or
resources in any other way we’re open to all ideas, especially from
people and companies near to Dean Court.
To find out more about the Crofts Court development and OCLT’s future
plans to build more affordable homes to tackle Oxfordshire’s housing
crisis, please email info@oclt.org.uk or call 07889 209448.
Culture Corner
31
There is a classical gig coming up at the tap Social on 18th April at 7.30,
but without any of the formal trappings often associated with the classical
genre. Tickets/ details here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/559667188627
The Salomé Quartet are four award-winning musicians who met at the Royal
College of Music and have performed at many of the most prestigious venues
in the UK.
But they've never played a concert quite like this before...
Despite the fact that hearing classical music can be a thrilling experience,
people can sometimes feel that it's formal and stuffy and somehow not for
them. This concert aims to change that. You're invited to sit on the floor right
next to the musicians if you like (bring a cushion!), to clap when you want, to
show your emotions and respond to this fabulous music just as you would to
any other.
They'll be playing:
SCHUBERT: Quartet in D Minor "Death and the Maiden"
CAROLINE SHAW: Entr'acte
HAYDN: Quartet in B flat "Sunrise"
HILDEGARD VON BINGEN: Three Antiphons
PS The Earthquake Fundraiser concert raised a wonderful £1094!
32
33
Art ‘reveal and workshop kicks off Spring
Saturday 18th March felt like the start of Spring in Botley. Sunshine and
intermittent showers, warmer temperatures and the promise of brighter
days ahead. So it was the perfect conditions for the official revealof the
first of three public art works in our shopping and community centre.
I hope readers have all now had a
chance to see the mosaic panels by
Clare Goodall with their beautiful
depictions of plants, animals, birds
and bugs, now they are in position on
the outside of the community building
on the corner below the Library. As
mentioned in last month’s Sprout, the
mosaics have been created with
community input from the original
ideas to the hands-on creation. Local
people of all ages were involved, with
specific input from the children of
Botley and North Hinksey Primary
Schools, so we hope many people will
be able to spot their own or their
family’s and neighbours’ contributions
to these works. The photo shows the
artists in front of the panels.
Look out for the next artworks to be installed: two huge carved stones by
Alex Wenham have been finished and planning permission granted to
install in the central area of the shopping centre. We are discussing dates
with Mace and Gilbert Ash who are organising the bases. Then the third
element is a mural by Nor Greenhalgh who held another workshop on
Saturday to gather more ideas and input from local people of all ages.
Look out for dates for these installations later this Spring and Summer.
Thank you to Fusion Arts for their ongoing support with this work as well
as our Vale Arts Officer, Abi Brown, and the artists themselves.
What’s next for public art in Botley?
These public artworks are funded by Section 106 money from the West
Way development which is specifically earmarked for spending on
34
artwork in the vicinity of new developments. We will soon have more
S106 art funding available for other projects:
1. Phase 2 of the West Way development: to be completed by No-
vember 2023. There is more funding for an artwork that could go near
the junction of West Way and Westminster Way, visible to traffic en-
tering Botley.
2. Turner Drive: there are allocated funds for art to be spent in or
around the vicinity of the Turner Drive development. This needs to be
spent by November 2025.
We would be interested in hearing from residents in the Turner Drive area
who have ideas to put forward, and to get further input from the
community as a whole on how public art could enhance the area for
residents. Please get in touch via PublicArt@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
North Hinksey Parish Council Public Art Working Group
35
Botley Youth Club 2023 Update
As you may well know by now Botley Youth Club is returning as a weekly
Wednesday night club, meeting at the Louie Memorial Pavilion and
Fields. We hope to begin sessions towards the end of April/early May
we’re just waiting for constitutional and operational formalities to clear.
In the meantime we held our second taster party at the end of January,
celebrating the New Year together with games, food and fun!
Thirty five young people between 10 and 15 wrapped up warmly and
enjoyed fruit smoothies, hot dogs and a ton of fresh fruit and veg (believe
it or not!), while playing table football, floodlit table-tennis, Christmas card
memory game, (non) Beer Pong and one or two tricks, puzzles and
challenges
that defy
names not
forgetting the
Jackson
Pollock
painting room
see pic.
Two hours of
organised
chaos
passed
almost as
quickly as the
sighting of
the
International
Space Station flying overhead, which ended our evening…indeed blink
and you’d have missed it! The good news is we’ll be back EVERY WEEK
very soon!
We will also have hosted a volunteers evening to meet anyone interested
in getting involved, share ideas, plan for the future, and combine our
backgrounds, skills and interests to create a safe, dependable and
nourishing space for our young people to grow. Above all we hope to
have FUN!!
To find out more about BYC contact us botleyyouthclub@gmail.com or on
Instagram @botley_youth_club
36
37
Second Botley Brownies
February has been a remarkably busy month for us all. We started off
with a trip to the annual Oxfordshire Scout & Guide Gang Show at Radley
College. This is a full two-hour show of skits, dancing and songs all
performed by young members of both the Scout and Girlguiding
movements between the ages of 7 and 25 years. The Brownies really did
enjoy themselves some even joined in with the singing! It was a very
special year this year as it was the 70th Anniversary of the show and it
also featured Snowy Owl’s daughter, Gemma. Both Tawny and Snowy
Owl had also appeared in the Show when they were younger as Brownies
and Guides.
The following Saturday several of the girls attended the Oxford City II
Division Thinking Day Activity morning at the
King’s Centre on Osney Mead. Here they
worked diligently towards the Girlguiding “Our
World, Our Thriving Future” badge by
completing a pictorial quiz on inspirational
women, a balloon paint art of the world, further
crafts and a calming meditation activity.
“Thinking Day” is always on 22nd February and
is the birthdate of both our founder Lord Baden
Powell and also that of his wife Lady Olave
Baden Powell, our first World Chief Guide. On
this day members of both Scouting and
Girlguiding think of other members all around the world.
Within our weekly meetings all the girls have been working very hard on
the Innovate section of the programme. This has involved thinking about
a lot of inventions which we all take for granted now but which, at some
point in history, needed inventing. Alarmingly, we
have been thinking about life before toilet paper,
torches and ball-point pens! The girls were then
tasked, in two groups, to come up with a completely
new invention and wow did they come up with a
couple of brilliant ideas! (Dragons’ Den here we
come).
STOP PRESS: as we were putting this article to bed Girlguiding has just
announced that it is “refreshing our brand”. More about what that will
entail next month.
Brown Owl
38
39
Randoms
CoE Easter services: Maundy Thursday 6th April, 7.00pm Holy Com-
munion; Good Friday, 2.00pm, An Hour at the Cross; Easter Day, 9.30am
Holy Communion at Ss Peter and Paul; and at St. Lawrence, North
Hinksey, Holy Communion at 11.30am on Easter Day. Plus:
Saturday 29th April, 4-6pm Messy Church: Bible stories, games, craft,
food, songs for primary school ages children and their carers at Ss Peter
and Paul, and on Monday 8th May, 2-4pmCoronation Cream Teas and
guided Tours at St Lawrence’s Church, raising funds for North Hinksey
Primary School. Teas: £5.00 per head, children free.
Hill End Family Days
11-12-13 April. Easter Family Forest days: trails, nature crafts, pond dip-
ping, campfire & a BBQ lunch. https://hill-end.org/news
Oxford & District ROS Support Group
The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has an Oxfordshire based local
Support Group. We are a team of volunteers who raise awareness about
bone health and aim to eradicate the many negative impacts of the
condition, such as disability following fractures. We can provide you with
information, and support from others with osteoporosis. We hold events
throughout the year, such as online talks with trusted medical
professionals knowledgeable about the condition and we meet face to
face at local venues. To find out more, please get in touch by calling
07900 303510 or by emailing oxfordvolunteers@theros.org.uk
April in Botley Library
Saturday 1st April Cllr Judy Roberts Surgery 10-12pm
Monday 3rd Ex Library Stock Book Sale Starts (running for 2 weeks)
Mondays 3rd, 17th, 24th 10-12pm ‘Pop in’ for tea and coffee
Tuesdays 4th, 11th 2pm Craft Event for children
Tuesday 25th Lego Club 3-4.30pm
Thursdays 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th Craft Club for Adults 2pm
Friday 7th Closed (Bank Holiday)
Saturday 8th – Open 9.30 -1pm (usual Saturday Hours)
Monday 10th Closed (Bank Holiday)
Friday 14th, 21st, 28th Rhymetime 10am
– Board games 4-6pm
40
41
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 67.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.1511, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Terri Matthews: clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email
botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.
Contact csugden@ocrpl.org
Botley Health Walks
2nd & 4th Sats 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car park, or
Tues 11 am Library botleyhealthroutes@gmail.com
Botley Library
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Memory Lane Café
Thursdays 10-12 Seacourt Hall Lounge, Diccon James
07740 611971
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Botley Youth Club
botleyyouthclub@gmail.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Thursdays, 19.30-21.30 St Andrew’s Ch. Steve Morris,
chair. www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 79pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/
tel 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Lawn Tennis Club
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
07824 881680 www.oxfordsportsltc.org
42
West Oxford Singing Circle
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Morris Dancing Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
MonFri 7.45am6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 1012.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Email: raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Botley School, Saturdays 9:00am3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds 01865 590510 or 01235 390810
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
43
Botley Baptist Church,
I Church Way
Contact: Building Manager 07742
662668 botleybaptist@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact: Maria Brown,
Tel : 01 86 5 2 47 9 86 .
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Tel . 01 86 5 2 45 2 73
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion
3rd Sunday 11.30am Matins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 45.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yarnells Hill
Saturday 6.30pm Mass
Sunday 9.15am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm
Choir practice Thursday 2pm
Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services on 1st Floor, 1 Church Way at 9.30am with
crèche, children’s Sunday school and youth group
Pastor Steve Vickery 01865 586332
contact@ccox.church website: www.ccoxford.church
44
What’s On
April
Sun 9th Easter Sunday
11-13th Hill End Family Days
Mon 17th School term begins
Mon 17th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Julie Ann Godson, The Water Gypsy
Mon 17th 7pm, Town Hall, Q&A about Flood Scheme
Tues 18th 7.30pm, Tap Social, Informal Classical Concert,
Salome Quartet
Thur 23rd 7.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Parish Council Meeting
Mon 24th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Jane Fletcher, Art of Giving
Every Tuesday, 1pm-2.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Age UK Warm
Space for everyone, especially older adults, with free tea and
coffee.
Through the week, plenty of different activities in the warm
space of the library (see page 38)
May
Thur 4th Parish and District Council Elections
Sat 6th Coronation (extra bank holiday on Monday)